I attended the press conference. It was well orchestrated including having about 20 children wearing white tee shirts saying "Future Voter."

Was that a press conference held here in Los Angeles? I'm asking because I'm wondering how they were able to use a school bus.

From the article: In Los Angeles, immigration activists hailed the measure at a news conference before heading to local lawmakers' offices -- aboard a yellow school bus festooned with banners -- to urge their support.

President Barack Obama, a former Law School Senior Lecturer, wins ...... President Barack Obama, a former Law School Senior Lecturer, wins Nobel Peace Prize. October 9, 2009. US President Barack Obama, whose ...http://news.uchicago.edu/news.php?asset_id=1730 - 16k - Cached

University of Chicago Law School > News 11.04.2008: Former Senior ...... Home > News > News 11.04.2008: Former Senior Lecturer Barack Obama Elected President of the United States News 11.04.2008 Former..http://www.law.uchicago.edu/news/obamaelected/ - 17k - Cached

If the elitist DemocRats in government succeed in taking over healthcare, they'll be taxing and then outlawing anything and everything that 'they consider' to be unhealthy...

I think they'll keep tobacco, liquor, greasy, fast food etc. legal and just refuse to give those people who indulge any health care. That way they can still collect the tax money on those products and SAVE money by only providing health care to people who "deserve" it.

And I am only being half-way sarcastic about that. I truly am that cynical.

Maurice Clemmons has a lengthy police record dating back to when he was 17-years old and living in Arkansas. He was convicted of aggravated robbery and sentenced to 60-years in prison. That sentence was commuted by then Governor Mike Huckabee in 2000 after Clemmons had served 11 years.

Clemmons was just released from Pierce County jail a week ago. He was awaiting trial on second degree rape of a child. He posted a $150,000 bond. Clemmons was also facing charges of assualting a police officer.

The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at Angel Canyon, at the heart of the Golden Circle of national parks in southern Utah, is home on any given day to about 2,000 dogs, cats, and other animals, who come from shelters and rescue groups around the country for special care they can only receive at Best Friends.

Most of the animals who find their way to Best Friends have special physical or behavioral needs, and our expert staff of veterinarians, trainers and caregivers offer them all the help they require. Most of them are ready to go to good new homes after just a few weeks of special care. A few, who are too old or too sick, or who have suffered extra trauma, find a home and haven at the sanctuary, and are given loving care for the rest of their lives.

Around the country

Best Friends works with our members -- and with humane groups, individuals and entire communities -- to set up spay/neuter, shelter, foster and adoption programs in neighborhoods, cities, and states throughout the country. Through this work, Best Friends is helping to save and rehabilitate tens of thousands of animals each year.

Through the online Best Friends Network, the society reaches across the nation and around the world, helping local communities to rescue animals in distress and to create their own No More Homeless Pets communities.

The actions of probate courts (or other courts handling probate matters) are becoming increasingly controversial due in part to guardianship actions which functionally transfer control of a person's life and property to a court-appointed administrator.

KDFW, FOX 4 in Dallas/Fort Worth, aired an important story about Jean and Michael Kidd of Richardson (TX) whose lives have been overtaken by a Collin County probate court.

Court-appointed guardianships are a growing trend. According to The Texas Probate Web Site, guardianships are defined as: "a court-supervised administration for a minor or for an incapacitated person. A person -- called the guardian -- is appointed by a court to care for the person and/or property of the minor or incapacitated person -- called the ward. In some other states, guardianships are called conservatorships, but in Texas they are called guardianships."

The site provides these definitions of a "minor" and an "incapacitated person": "A minor is a person younger than 18 years who has never been married or who has not had his or her disabilities of minority removed by judicial action. A minor is considered an incapacitated person. An adult who, because of physical or mental condition, is substantially unable to provide food, clothing or shelter for himself or herself, to care for his or her own physical health, or to manage his or her own financial affairs is considered an incapacitated person. The definition of incapacitated person also includes a person who must have a guardian appointed to receive funds due the person from any governmental source."

Two types of guardians/guardianships exist: a guardian of the person and a guardian of the estate. The guardian of the person takes care of a ward's physical well-being while care of a ward's property may be assigned to a guardian of the estate. A ward may be assigned only one type of guardian, but in other cases, both types of guardians are assigned with sometimes the two guardianship roles being filled by one person.

Texas is currently experiencing rapid population growth. With that, a recent five-part series addressed Is Texas' population growth a "stimulus" for estate looting, probate abuse?

Today's seniors with their accumulation of wealth are an especially attractive population segment, but probate exploitation and estate thefts increasingly impact Americans of all ages. These Involuntary Redistribution of Assets (IRA) actions use wills, trusts, guardianships and sometimes powers of attorney to loot assets of the dead, disabled or incapacitated.

With guardianships, a person loses control of their individual liberty as well as their property. While guardianships are often associated with the elderly, the mentally or physically disabled or anyone incapacitated via illness or injury can also be subjected to this status. Family members may serve as guardians, but a new industry has evolved and been in a growth mode as courts increasingly elect to use professional guardians.

The use of probate venues and legal instruments like wills, trusts or guardianships to confiscate or divert resources - and with guardianships, also potentially deny individual freedom - is becoming more common. Without direct involvement, few people realize how these things occur. Despite being labeled "incapacitated" by a court, Jean and Michael Kidd appear to well understand that guardianships can functionally hijack people's lives.

In some cases, the targeted parties may need some type of assistance. However, the intrusive approach along with the questionable denial of freedom and/or confiscation of assets increasingly used by many government entities should serve as a warning to all Americans who value personal freedom and property rights.

My weekly columns are carried on several sites on the Internet and in three less-reputable newspapers. I now post these on FreeRepublic. In addition, I write on constitutional law, at:http://www.theacru.org

LOS ANGELES, May 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the nation's largest-ever gang sweep, approximately 1,400 law enforcement officers this morning swept across the City of Hawaiian Gardens to arrest dozens of people named in a federal RICO indictment that describes a war against the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, as well as systematic efforts to rid the community of African-Americans with a campaign of shootings and other attacks.

The investigation into the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens gang began after the fatal shooting of Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputy (LASD) Jerry Ortiz, who was gunned down four years ago by a gang member he was attempting to arrest on suspicion of shooting an African-American man. While the gang member, Jose Orozco, was quickly apprehended and currently sits on death row, the shooting of Deputy Ortiz sparked an investigation that culminated with today's takedown that has dealt a severe blow to the gang that has terrorized Hawaiian Gardens for nearly 50 years.

During today's enforcement action, which was part of "Operation Knock Out," 88 defendants were arrested on federal and state charges. Sixty-three of those arrests were pursuant to five federal indictments, which name a total of 147 defendants. With 35 defendants already in custody, there are now 98 defendants ready to be prosecuted in federal court. The remaining 49 defendants named in the federal indictments are either fugitives being sought by authorities or individuals who investigators are working to identify. Additional arrests are expected in this case.

"Operation Knock Out has led to federal indictments against 147 gang members, making it the largest gang sweep in U.S. history," said United States Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien. "More than 50 members and associates of the Hawaiian Gardens gang are charged with violating the federal RICO statute -- the same law that we used to knock out the mafia and which we have used with great success in Southern California in recent years to dismantle other criminal gangs."

LASD Assistant Sheriff Paul Tanaka stated, "Jerry Ortiz was an outstanding deputy sheriff and a good family man who was murdered by a cowardly Hawaiian Gardens gang member. The senseless murder of Deputy Ortiz brought new-found attention to the fact that this multi-generational gang had been terrorizing neighborhoods, running drugs, and committing violent crimes for many years. The primary purpose of 'Operation Knock Out' was to make the community a safer place for all those who had suffered under the oppressive reign of this gang. May Deputy Ortiz rest in peace."

In addition to the murder of Deputy Ortiz, the racketeering indictment discusses other violent attacks, drug trafficking, carjackings and kidnappings. For example, George Manuel Flores, the lead defendant in the RICO indictment and a longtime member of the Hawaiian Gardens gang, allegedly ordered the murder of another gang member who was believed to be cooperating with law enforcement and Flores allegedly provided a young gang member with a weapon and instructed him to shoot African-Americans who lived nearby.

"The careful process of building a racketeering case, while demanding, resulted in an unprecedented number of people being charged, to include top-echelon members of the gang," said Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles. "The law abiding citizens of Hawaiian Gardens have endured terrorizing witness intimidation, ethnic bigotry and violence around every corner for decades. Today's arrests are paving the way to justice and a better way of life for those residents."

During this investigation, approximately 31 pounds of methamphetamine were seized, along with lesser quantities of other narcotics. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Landrum stated, "Today's arrests send a message to those who are responsible for bringing violence and distress onto the streets of Los Angeles, that law enforcement is working together to take back our neighborhoods and get violent drug traffickers and street gangs out of our communities."

Below is a breakdown of the cases unsealed this morning as part of Operation Knock Out:

United States v. Flores, et al., the racketeering indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury on May 6. This indictment charges 57 defendants. Out of the 57 defendants in this indictment, 21 are already in custody and 36 were subject to arrest today.

United States v. Henley, et al., which was indicted on April 8. This case charges 20 defendants linked to the Hawaiian Gardens gang, 13 of whom where subject to arrest today, in a scheme to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, powder cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. Four of the defendants in this case are already in custody. Three of the defendants have yet to be identified.

United States v. Barajas, et al., which charges 20 defendants in a superseding indictment returned on April 8. In this case, two defendants are already in custody and five defendants, three of whom are believed to be in Mexico, have not been fully identified. Therefore, 13 of the defendants in this narcotics case were subject to arrest today.

United States v. Sotelo, et al., which was indicted on April 29. This indictment charges 21 members of several street gangs, two of whom are already in custody and two of whom have not been fully identified, in a wide-ranging conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Seventeen defendants in this indictment were subject to arrest today.

United States v. Ramirez, et al., is a 29-defendant indictment that was returned on May 14 and charges members and associates of a Paramount-based gang. Out of the 29 defendants accused of conspiring to distribute a variety of narcotics, 25 were subject to arrest today as four are already in custody.

The defendants arrested this morning will be making initial appearances this afternoon in federal court in both Los Angeles and Santa Ana. If convicted of the charges alleged in the indictments, all of the defendants face mandatory minimum sentences and approximately 15 defendants face mandatory sentences of life without parole.

During "Operation Knock Out," investigators seized approximately 105 firearms. "We took some very violent criminals off of the streets today and seized the tools of their trade -- firearms," said John A. Torres, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles Field Division. "ATF will now continue the process of tracing these firearms and targeting those who illegally supplied them to these ruthless gang members."

Robert Schoch, Special Agent in Charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Investigations in Los Angeles, stated, "Today's operation should leave no doubt about our collective resolve to attack and dismantle the street gangs that are terrorizing our neighborhoods. ICE will continue to use its unique immigration and customs authorities to target these organizations and combat the violence and intimidation they use to hold our communities hostage to fear."

Leslie P. DeMarco, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Criminal Investigation's Los Angeles Field Office, commented, "Today's enforcement operations mark the beginning of the end of the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens street gang. As a part of the HIDTA task force, IRS - Criminal Investigation specializes in following the money in illegal narcotic and criminal racketeering operations, with the intent to financially disrupt and dismantle these organizations, enabling increased criminal prosecutions and asset forfeitures."

"Operation Knock Out" was an investigation into Varrio Hawaiian Gardens conducted by the Los Angeles High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

The following agencies provided extraordinary support during the investigation and this morning's operation: the United States Marshals Service, the California Department of Justice's Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, the Long Beach Police Department, the Ridgecrest Police Department, the Downey Police Department, the Kern County Sheriff's Department, the Bell Gardens Police Department, the Costa Mesa Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Joint Forces Joint Training Base at Los Alamitos, the Los Angeles Police Department, the South Gate Police Department, the Hawthorne Police Department, the Montebello Police Department, the Santa Monica Police Department, PROAC, the Ontario Police Department, the San Diego Narcotics Task Force, the Riverside Sheriff's Department, LA Impact, the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services' Multi Agency Response Team, which rescued 26 children this morning.

I've lived here since the mid-60s and I can't believe how diffeent things are now. In the 50s and 60s Wilmington wasn't nearly as bad as its reputation. Now, however, it's worse that its reputation ever was.

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I just completed a meeting with my working group on financial markets. We discussed the unprecedented and aggressive steps the federal government is taking to address the financial crisis. Over the past few weeks, my administration has worked with both parties in Congress to pass a financial rescue plan. Federal agencies have moved decisively to shore up struggling institutions and stabilize our markets. And the United States has worked with partners around the world to coordinate our actions to get our economies back on track.

This weekend, I met with finance ministers from the G7 and the G20 -- organizations representing some of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies. We agreed on a coordinated plan for action to provide new liquidity, strengthen financial institutions, protect our citizens' savings, and ensure fairness and integrity in the markets. Yesterday, leaders in Europe moved forward with this plan. They announced significant steps to inject capital into their financial systems by purchasing equity in major banks. And they announced a new effort to jumpstart lending by providing temporary government guarantees for bank loans. These are wise and timely actions, and they have the full support of the United States.

Today, I am announcing new measures America is taking to implement the G7 action plan and strengthen banks across our country.

First, the federal government will use a portion of the $700 billion financial rescue plan to inject capital into banks by purchasing equity shares. This new capital will help healthy banks continue making loans to businesses and consumers. And this new capital will help struggling banks fill the hole created by losses during the financial crisis, so they can resume lending and help spur job creation and economic growth. This is an essential short-term measure to ensure the viability of America's banking system. And the program is carefully designed to encourage banks to buy these shares back from the government when the markets stabilize and they can raise capital from private investors.

Second, and effective immediately, the FDIC will temporarily guarantee most new debt issued by insured banks. This will address one of the central problems plaguing our financial system -- banks have been unable to borrow money, and that has restricted their ability to lend to consumers and businesses. When money flows more freely between banks, it will make it easier for Americans to borrow for cars, and homes, and for small businesses to expand.

Third, the FDIC will immediately and temporarily expand government insurance to cover all non-interest bearing transaction accounts. These accounts are used primarily by small businesses to cover day-to-day operations. By insuring every dollar in these accounts, we will give small business owners peace of mind and bring stability to the -- and bring greater stability to the banking system.

Fourth, the Federal Reserve will soon finalize work on a new program to serve as a buyer of last resort for commercial paper. This is a key source of short-term financing for American businesses and financial institutions. And by unfreezing the market for commercial paper, the Federal Reserve will help American businesses meet payroll, and purchase inventory, and invest to create jobs.

In a few moments, Secretary Paulson and other members of my Working Group on Financial Markets will explain these steps in greater detail. They will make clear that each of these new programs contains safeguards to protect the taxpayers. They will make clear that the government's role will be limited and temporary. And they will make clear that these measures are not intended to take over the free market, but to preserve it.

The measures I have announced today are the latest steps in this systematic approach to address the crisis. I know Americans are deeply concerned about the stress in our financial markets, and the impact it is having on their retirement accounts, and 401(k)s, and college savings, and other investments. I recognize that the action leaders are taking here in Washington and in European capitals can seem distant from those concerns. But these efforts are designed to directly benefit the American people by stabilizing our overall financial system and helping our economy recover.

It will take time for our efforts to have their full impact, but the American people can have confidence about our long-term economic future. We have a strategy that is broad, that is flexible, and that is aimed at the root cause of our problem. Nations around the world are working together to overcome this challenge. And with confidence and determination, we will return our economies to the path of growth and prosperity.

Rafael Quintero Curiel, a member of Calderon's press office, allegedly took six or seven BlackBerrys belonging to White House staff from a table outside a room in the hotel where Mexican officials were meeting with Bush...

The U.S. Secret Service is said to have caught Quintero Curiel pocketing the devices on a surveillance video.

[...] the Secret Service caught up with him at the airport, where he "said it was purely accidental, gave [the BlackBerrys] back, claimed diplomatic immunity and left New Orleans with the Mexican delegation."

From the article: The Farm Labor Organizing Committee  or FLOC  already represents H-2A workers on both sides of the border. A year ago, their Monterrey, Mexico-based organizer was murdered in the union office. Mexican police arrested a suspect with a history of human and drug smuggling.

When he ran for re-election, he asked me to campaign for him in 1980 - I was by then Mayor of New York City -- and I said that I would vote for him, but not campaign for him because he was then engaging in hostile acts towards Israel. I was popular with the Jewish community and when I would not campaign for him unless he changed his position, he called me to his hotel in New York when attending a fundraiser and said, "You have done me more damage than any man in America."

I felt proud then, and even more today, since we now know what a miserable president he was then and the miserable human being he is now as he prepares to meet with Hamas.

"[T]he citizenship of 16,031 members of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines is listed as 'unknown.' That's about one in 100 active-duty military members who might be U.S. citizens, legal immigrants - or just about anybody else."

"U.S. military officials say they are shoring up defenses against illegal immigrants and others who may misrepresent themselves and join the armed services."

"The Army has the highest number of unknowns - 9,055. The Navy has 6,531, the Air Force 444, the Marines one. Overall, 1,366,032 U.S. citizens and 35,662 legal immigrants serve in the U.S. military."

"Military officials check birth certificates, green cards or Social Security numbers to verify whether new recruits are legally in the country, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell, a U.S. Defense Department spokeswoman ... 'We hope to enhance those in the future, and are looking to do that in coordination with other government agencies,' she said. 'We want to make the process better.' Among new military initiatives: Start checking Social Security numbers given by recruits - as diligent employers sometimes do."

"Data on citizenship in the military, provided by the Army, comes from September 2003. Military officials were unable to explain why the citizenship of so many is hazy. 'Of the number we have that are unknowns, I'm sure that some are citizens and some may not be citizens,' said Lt. Col. Stan Heath, spokesman for the U.S. Army Human Resources Command ... 'We just don't know' how many may be illegal, Heath said. 'We're trying to clean up the database to make sure we have a good accountability. We are working on it.'

April 1st, 2008 -- Hundreds of high school students from across Los Angeles County gathered Monday at UCLA to hold a demonstration to promote a new civil rights movement for Latinos, chanting "aqui estamos, no nos vamos," translated from Spanish into English as, "we're here, we won't go."

(OR, it could be translated from Spanish into English as, "we're here, but we ain't goin' to school.")

It's worse that that. Juana's been in the country illegally since 1982. (She must've missed the '86 amnesty.) Two of her four chldren are also here illegally. She uses a stolen shopping cart so she can steal to make a living. She makes between $20,000 and $25,000 a year stealing recyclables (tax free money). MediCal pays for her healthcare. And then she claims:

"We are working honorably. We aren't robbing. The police should let us work."